A HIGH FIVE: Red Bull II routs Birmingham Legion, 5-0

Derrick Etienne gave Red Bull II all the scoring it needed in the 23rd minute. (Photo courtesy of Red Bull II)

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Mathias Jørgensen struck twice in the second half to boost Red Bull II to a 5-0 victory over Birmingham Legion FC in a USL Championship game at MSU Soccer Park Wednesday night.

The result lifted New York (19 points) to a 6-1-1 mark and atop the league.

Goalkeeper Ryan Meara made six saves to register his second shutout this season before a crowd of 476.

Derrick Etienne Jr. tallied the first goal, defender Sean Nealis recorded his first professional goal and the league’s USL’s top goal-scorer, Tom Barlow, collected his eighth.

“The first half we kind of got off to a slow start,” Nealis said. “They were winning the second balls and at halftime we kind of adjusted and realized we had to go out, do more, and deserved more of each other and we ended up banging a few in the back of the net and that feels good.”

Etienne Jr. started things off in the 23rd minute, intercepting a pass in the Birmingham end and finishing his chance alone on goal.

Nealis, chosen in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, connected for his goal in the 55th minute, finishing a corner from Andy Ivan at the back post.

Jørgensen, New York’s 18-year-old Danish striker, got the start at forward and cashed in twice at the second half.

“I am growing more and more every day,” Jørgensen said. “From the training pitch to the match pitch, I am growing every time I come onto the pitch. Of course, I am happy to help the team with two goals, but I think in a game like this one, the two goals are okay, and I helped my teammates, but I can help my teammates more in a game like this. Of course, I am happy, and goals give confidence and confidence gives more goals, and I hope to keep going with like that one.”

Jørgensen ran behind the defense and finished a pass from Etienne Jr. in the 57th minute. Jørgensen scored his second in the 81st minute off of a rebound.

Barlow appeared as a second-half sub and scored off a deflected shot in the 90th minute. Jared Stroud earned an assist on the play.

Ryan Meara earned his second shutout of the season for NYRB II, makingsix saves.

NYRB II heads North of the border to face Ottawa Fury FC Wednesday, May 8 at 10:30 a.m.”We hope to get three points in Ottawa,” Nealis said. “We hope to play better than we did in the first half more so like the second half and finish our chances that we get.”

About The Author

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered eight World Cups, seven Olympics and all 21 MLS Cups. He writes about New York City FC, New York Cosmos and the U.S. national team for Newsday and pens a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has two more in the works, including one about the Rochester Lancers.